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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "claim agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "cheque " (Beware of any scheme that involves cashing checks or money orders and then wiring a portion of the funds somewhere - you'll be liable for the entire amount if the checks or money orders turn out to be fake, even after you have received and forwarded cash)
• This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
  
  1. They don't notify winners by email.
  2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
  3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
  4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
  5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
  6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
  7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • apexgmbh@myway.com

Fraud email example:

From: "MR WEEKS" <apexagency@luxmail.com>
Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2006 13:10:59 +0100
Subject: WINNING WINNING!!!!!!!!!


Euromillion Lotery Germany

Potsdamnerplatz 10

Berlin Germany

Ref. N? PGB/007/05/12/MAD.

Batch. N? GHT/2907/333/06.



YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS WON THIS YEAR EURO MILLION

LOTTERY.



We wish to congratulate you over your email success in our computer

balloting sweepstake held on 2nd January2006. This is a millennium

scientific computer game in which email addresses were used. It is a

promotional program aimed at encouraging internet users; therefore you do

not need to buy

ticket to enter for it your email address attached to ticket star number

(4-5) drew the EUROMILLION lucky numbers 3-19-26-49-50 which consequently

won the draw in the Second category. You have been approved for the star

prize of EUR 667,248.26. (Six Hundred And Sixty Seven Thousand, Two

Hundred and Fourty Eight Euros. Twenty Six Cents)



CONGRATULATIONS !!!



You are advised to keep this winning very confidential until you receive

your lump prize in your account or optional cheque issuance to you.



This is a protective measure to avoid double claiming by people you may

tell as we have had cases like this before, please send your Full

Name,Home and Office Tel & Fax Number, Mobile Tel Number and your winning

ticket number,reference numbers and amount won information for processing

of your winning fund to our registered claim agent in addrres below.



APEX Trust AGENCY GMBH,

Mr.Morris Weeks

Address: Potsdamnerplatz 10

Berlin Germany.

E-mail:apexgmbh@myway.com



Remember, all winning must be claimed not later than 24th of February,

2006.Please note, in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications,

remember to quote your reference number and batch number in all

correspondence.



Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our agent as

soon as possible.



Once again congratulations.



Best regard,

Mrs. Emily Simon,

Lottery coordinator.



This promotional program takes place every year. This lottery was promoted

and sponsored by THE MANAGEMENT OF THE STAATSLOTERIJ COMPANY B.V AND

SULTAN OF BRUNEI, we hope with part of your winning you will take part on

our next year €2 million international lottery.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam